NEWS SUMMARY
But you would be wrong.
On any given day, owing to tight budgets, the evasiveness of those we cover, and the generally (sorry … ) lazy nature of some reporters, way too much of what gets covered in politics and government are the spoon-fed public events that the communications staffs want covered.
Even "enterprise" and investigative stories tend these days to come not from innovative shoe-leather work, but rather are generated (and often thoroughly researched by) interest groups, political actors, and other non-journalists who want to see a story come out.
For instance, journalists are now routinely relying on the Republican National Committee's missed vote tallies of the Democratic presidential candidates in stories about the subject, as opposed to keeping the records ourselves.
And we bet in almost every instance when the RNC numbers are used, there's no checking to make sure the tallies are correct.
The Note believes that people in public life have a right to privacy, and to not have their every waking movement tracked and chronicled.
But as a matter of holding powerful interests accountable to the public interest, and of news, there are plenty of things done by government officials and politicians every day that the public never learns about, and some of those things shouldn't stay secret.
On any given day when the Congress is out of session, how many reporters know what the Members they are assigned to cover are doing?
Who knows what the members of the Bush cabinet are doing today, when they aren't in public? Who knows how many out-of-town-and-in-DC fundraising and donor cultivation trips members of the cabinet have already accomplished?
What about the congressional leaders of both parties? How often are they meeting with donors/lobbyists? What about senior officials at the national parties?
And don't even get us started on things at the state and local level … .
What about private citizens Bill Clinton and Al Gore? Sure, they have earned the right to be left (mostly) alone, but for pure news value, those two fellows do a lot of interesting stuff every week, but nobody seems to be able to track it, or to even try.
Most of the time, this doesn't matter — public officials are mostly honest people, and many make a commitment to let their constituents and the general public know about their actions that relate to their public role.
But for every newsworthy evasive action we learn about (because the press gets tipped off or stumbles into something or finds something through hard work), there are literally thousands that never come to light.
With the president headed off to sell Medicare reform in Chicago (and, we bet, suck up to Mayor Daley big time), and the Senate poised to announce today a plan for dealing with what Democrats still see as a ticking time bomb for the president — the intelligence questions surrounding the missing weapons of mass destruction — the questions of hide-and-seek and American political journalism are front and center for us today.
So, we offer you several outstandingly illustrative examples.
First, with Wetstar putting in the air the notion of congressional Republicans possibly engaged in potentially improper quid pro quos with donors, the third-ranking Republican in the House — Missouri's Roy Blunt — gets hit in the face with a front-page Washington Post story today questioning his personal and professional ties to Philip Morris. LINK
This is one you are going to need to read all of, but before we show you an excerpt or two, remember: as you read, ask yourself: Who tipped the Post off to this story, and why?
Insiders will be focused on those questions almost as much as the facts of the story itself (which studiously ignores our queries):
"Only hours after Rep. Roy Blunt was named to the House's third-highest leadership job in November, he surprised his fellow top Republicans by trying to quietly insert a provision benefiting Philip Morris USA into the 475-page bill creating a Department of Homeland Security, according to several people familiar with the effort."
"The new majority whip, who has close personal and political ties to the company, instructed congressional aides to add the tobacco provision to the bill — then within hours of a final House vote — even though no one else in leadership supported it or knew he was trying to squeeze it in."
"Once alerted to the provision, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's chief of staff, Scott Palmer, quickly had it pulled out, said a senior GOP leader who requested anonymity. Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) also opposed what Blunt (Mo.) was trying to do, the member said, and 'worked against it' when he learned of it … ."
"The provision would have made it harder to sell tobacco products over the Internet and would have cracked down on the sale of contraband cigarettes, two practices that cut into Philip Morris's profits. Blunt has received large campaign donations from Philip Morris, his son works for the company in Missouri and the House member has a close personal relationship with a Washington lobbyist for the firm."
"It is highly unusual for a House Republican to insert a last-minute contentious provision that has never gone through a committee, never faced a House vote and never been approved by the speaker or majority leader. Blunt's attempt became known only to a small circle of House and White House officials. They kept it quiet, preferring no publicity on a matter involving favors for the nation's biggest tobacco company and possible claims of conflicts of interest … ."
"Several Republicans who learned of the November effort have privately expressed concern that Blunt pushed the provision partly because of his personal relationship with Philip Morris lobbyist Abigail Perlman. Blunt, who several Republicans said spends considerable time with Perlman, would not discuss their relationship or whether the two had talked about the provision."
So, what to watch for now?
A. How does the White House react?
B. How/when does Blunt face the cameras on this?
C. How does Philip Morris and Ms. Perlman react?
D. How does the Missouri press react? (Another of Blunt's sons is the near-certain nominee for governor of the state next year … )
E. With how much reluctance and regret do we provide you with the reader service of the ACYPL website, complete with photos? LINK
Now, let's take another example, involving one of Mr. Blunt's close allies in Washington, a fellow named Karl Rove.
By our count back-of-the-envelope guestimate, the ratio of Mr. Rove's trips outside of Washington that are covered to the ones that aren't is about 1-4 (although we could be WAY off).
Yesterday, only because one of us was walking 21 Googling monkeys on 21 leashes during a midday break did we happen to stumble upon the fact that Mr. Rove was in Gotham City, having a VIP lunch with some VIPs.
Now, long before New York provides the backdrop for images of President Bush speaking to workers at Ground Zero, the city has to fulfill its traditional duties as one of the capitals of campaign cash.
So yesterday, Karl Rove delivered a political battle plan presentation at a "Leadership Luncheon" to an illustrious crowd in the leather banquette furnished first floor dining room at "21" — one of New York's finest restaurants, historical landmarks, and GOP clubhouses.
Can Karl Rove have lunch with the Governor of New York, the Mayor of New York City, and a lot of other important people and barely a word of it leak out?
Apparently so.
White House reporters don't generally try to track Mr. Rove's every movement, but where did those on the gubernatorial and mayoral beats think their charges were at that hour?
Maybe we missed a briefing or press release announcing all this, or a story heralding it, but we don't think so.
The crowd of 80 was described to The Note as very dapper and mostly made up of men. Governor Pataki served as genial, upbeat host of the proceedings. The point of the event was to get everyone on board with, and excited about, the president's big fundraiser in New York on June 23rd.
The group is said to have dined on mozzarella and beefsteak tomato salad for starters. The main course consisted of chicken, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables. And a berries tart served with fresh fruit topped it all off.
MIA was Mr. Rudy Giuliani.
Now the only journalist who we saw there waiting outside was the New York Post 's Deborah Orin, who this morning is all over the lunch for nearly 100 "New York Republican fat cats," which, she writes, "was a warm-up for the big June 23 Bush fund-raiser that organizers say will raise millions. The official goal is $2 million, but some local GOP activists predict $4 million or even up to $7 million." LINK
Orin has quotes from two of the invited corpulent felines in the $50,000+ club, who no doubt were hanging on Mr. Rove's every word. ("'They feel confident that New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are all in play and present great opportunities'" said one Bruce Blakeman; "'We want to play in the other guy's back yard — the idea is to lock up our states early and go after nontraditional Republicans'"said one unnamed attendee, who, Orin writes, added that "Rove spoke about the need to court Latinos, union members and women").
Orin sums up the upcoming fundraising stakes ("a rush of seven fund-raisers starring the president, four with Vice President Dick Cheney and three with First Lady Laura Bush") and the predicted massive record-breaking haul, and Notes the attendance of Governor Pataki ("'I think the president is going to be president'") and Mayor Bloomberg, and the lack of attendance of members of the press (it was a closed event).
Al D'Amato, Roy Goodman, Charles Garagano, and Rupert Murdoch were in attendance as well. After Mr. Rove finished his presentation, The Note was told that the crowd departed even more enthusiastic than they arrived.
Now, we were wondering how Orin seemed to be the only one hip to this big deal.
Then we came up with a theory: the New York Daily News' Gridlock Sam was attuned to the Rove action yesterday (and oddly, still online today-must be pretty bad gridlock) warning drivers: "Fund-raising is high on the agenda Tuesday as big spenders dine at '21' with Republican adviser Karl Rove. Drivers can expect limos to line W. 52nd St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves. from afternoon through the evening rush." LINK
And, of course, we wonder what else Mr. Rove did while he was in New York.
And, like, what are all the people running for president doing today?
We know a lot of the "private" time is being spent raising money, but c'mon.
Senator Bob Graham has a closed-door meeting with some Blue Dog Democrats and then speaks to Next Generation Democrats on the Hill. And John Edwards keynotes the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund awards dinner in Washington.
Hadassah Lieberman spends the day campaigning in Manchester, New Hampshire.
So far as we can tell, no one else has any public events, though Senator Kerry just might appear at the Global Business Coalition HIV/AIDS dinner at the Kennedy Center tonight.
We are working on an elaborate Logan's Run-type plan to deal with all this, but it isn't quite ready.
And before any of you ask: we aren't exempting ourselves from all of this self-criticism.
National security politics:
As we watch the partisan lines being drawn on how to substantively investigate how pre-war intelligence on WsMD was handled, we read and think and report along with others.
Keying off of Senator Bob Graham's criticism of the president's national security record, the Wall Street Journal 's John Harwood writes big:
"Republicans fear pending Congressional investigations could trigger a round of public finger pointing within the administration that would be more damaging than rhetoric from any Democrat. Even if Americans conclude the president merely exaggerated the threat of Iraqi weapons — using the political equivalent of the cork in Sammy Sosa's bat — that could have significant consequences in a close 2004 election."
"But the so-called Blair Democrats in the party's 2004 presidential field, who backed the Iraq war, worry that late discovery of a big weapons cache could undercut any attack on Mr. Bush's rationale. For now, they would rather talk about health care."
"So Mr. Graham is left to point most aggressively toward Mr. Bush's vulnerability. His strategy could do more than just weaken the Republican incumbent; it could help advance his party's argument for alternative approaches to fighting terrorism at home and abroad … ."
"For now, the leading Democratic candidates are watching, waiting — and privately cheering Mr. Graham on, since they don't yet fear him. The party's bid to oust Mr. Bush from the White House proceeds 'brick by brick,' a rival strategist says. If it succeeds, Democrats may one day credit Mr. Graham with jarring loose some of the foundation stones."
The AP's Ken Guggenheim reports, "Senate Republicans are resisting Democrats' calls for a full-blown investigation of whether intelligence on Iraq's weapons programs was inaccurate or manipulated to make the case for war." LINK
Cool-headed Representative Jane Harman op-eds in the Washington Post that questions must be raised about the missing WsMD, but she's all substance and no politics. LINK
Big Casino budget politics:
CBO pushes the deficit figure to over $400 billion. LINK
Tom Friedman does his best imitation of Paul Krugman in denouncing the Bush tax cuts as a threat to services that neoliberals cherish. LINK
Big Casino budget politics, Medicare:
With progress being made in the Senate Finance Committee, and with floor action coming up any day now, the Grassley-Baucus package is holding together.
The Wall Street Journal 's David Rogers sees "momentum" picking up, has some vote counting on both sides, and then this:
"At the weekly Democratic luncheon, Senator Edward Kennedy (D., Mass.) made a loud, passionate appeal for support, and the animated, closed-door meeting reflected often-bitter divisions in the party over how to approach the issue. The Finance panel leadership must meet limits imposed by the $400 billion, 10-year spending ceiling set in the Republican-backed budget this spring. Governors are upset more hasn't been done to relieve states of the costs of providing prescription drugs for poor senior citizens who are eligible for Medicare, the federal program for the elderly and disabled, and Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor … ."
"The most sensitive issue is the substantial gap in coverage for those elderly Americans with higher-than-average drug bills."
The Washington Post 's Helen Dewar looks around one corner (but not two or three) in analyzing the political stakes for both parties in the prescription drug fight. LINK
Her two biggest achievements: one, fleshing out the questions of why Senator Kennedy is supportive of the Senate compromise, and what the implications of that are; and, two, quoting Congressman Stark sounding Kennedyesque about the plan.
And the New York Times ' Robert Pear has Congressman Rangel sounding Kennedyesque too, with the AARP skeptical, but gettable. LINK
The New York Times Firestone and Stevenson quote the Quoteman:
"Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster, said it would be a transformational moment for the Republicans, similar to 'what it meant for the Democratic Party to have a Democratic president sign a welfare reform bill,' referring to President Bill Clinton's decision in 1996 to sign legislation requiring that welfare recipients seek work." LINK
"Mr. McInturff added, 'it would do an enormous amount to reposition this party with seniors.'"
Updates on the Senate's bipartisan progress, and the White House finessing of the dropping of the carrot-stick approach, appear in the Washington Post . LINK
The AP's Jennifer Loven reports that while the Senate and the House both work on Medicare bills of their own, the president "is looking to prod lawmakers into quickly giving millions of seniors a prescription drug benefit and choice in health care coverage." LINK
Loven writes, "In a private meeting Tuesday, Bush told Republican leaders from both houses the issue was a top priority, Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., said. But the wide-ranging session in the president's residence skimmed past the divisions between the White House and Republicans in Congress over the best way to give seniors drug coverage."
But hold on there — there is a conservative skunk at this Kennedy-Frist-Bush (coming-soon-to-a-Rose) Garden party.
The Wall Street Journal ed board is completely against what is emerging from the Senate.
The paper's lead editorial is a must-read for you, as it will be in the Office of the Vice President, and in the Senate Republican Conference (We would love to know what Senator Santorum says about it … .):
"Ted Kennedy has spent his career attempting to nationalize the American health care system. So maybe Republicans should take a hint when the Democrat from Massachusetts says he is delighted with the emerging GOP plans to 'reform' Medicare."
"As for taxpayers, they should be petrified. What began as a worthy attempt by President Bush to reform the broken retiree health system is fast becoming in Congress little more than a giant new entitlement. Republicans are compromising with themselves so fast that we're beginning to wonder what the point of having a GOP majority really is … "
"The GOP calculus here seems to be to take health care off the table for 2004, and take credit for delivering seniors a popular free lunch. That'll help elect a few more Republican Senators, and a re-elected Mr. Bush can then reform Social Security. But even if that long-shot strategy played out, the long-term cost is too high."
"This debate isn't just about Medicare but about the future of American health care. The left has dreamed for years of moving the U.S. to the European model of government-run health care. A universal drug benefit as part of an unreformed Medicare system is a giant leap toward that end. Once they've spent the carrot of prescription drugs on a fleeting re-election cycle, Republicans will be playing defense on health care for the next 30, make that 60, years. Price controls on drugs are a certainty down the road."
"This surrender also isn't politically necessary. Republicans hardly suffered in 2002 on the prescription drug issue, and they can win next year on a platform of security and (assuming the economic spurt heralded by the stock market) prosperity. In the meantime, they can coalesce around help for low-income seniors or a drug-discount card. Americans didn't elect Republicans to add one more pillar to the welfare state."
And the managed care and drug industry are starting to stir — so much so that they make the front-page of the New York Times . LINK
One of the bigger policy questions in play about Medicare is whether lawmakers will reform the entitlement. It's a priority for Republicans and also for many Democrats.
In today's Los Angeles Times, reporter Vicky Kemper uses Secretary Thompson's speech yesterday and President Bush's address today to doctors in Illinois to asses the framework that may result from the type of prescription drug benefit the administration would like.
Kemper is more bullish than yesterday's Wall Street Journal article on the same subject.
"With the number of American seniors expected to more than double over the next 50 years and the Medicare trust fund projected to run dry long before then, Bush and congressional leaders have said it would be irresponsible to add a prescription-drug benefit to Medicare without also finding a way to lower spending on other program benefits." LINK
"Republicans believe bringing more managed care and private competition into Medicare will do that; Democrats and the Congressional Budget Office disagree. Those groups also disagree on how many current Medicare beneficiaries would join the private plans."
"The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said only 2% of seniors would join preferred provider organizations — loose networks of doctors who agree to charge standard amounts for their services."
"Republicans predicted the total would be closer to 30% or 40%."
"For now, however, Republicans and Democrats appear to have agreed to put those disputes aside in the interest of passing a Medicare prescription-drug bill by fall."
The Wall Street Journal 's lead story starts this way: "After accelerating for five years, inflation in the cost of health care is showing signs of slowing."
Big Casino budget politics, tax cuts:
Knight Ridder's James Kuhnhenn reports that on Tuesday House Republicans "upped the ante with a new $82 billion tax-cut plan that would give the $1,000 per child credit to families with both low and high incomes, as well as adding other bonuses that critics said ignored the swelling federal budget deficits." LINK
Kuhnhenn writes: "The House strategy essentially dares Democrats and moderate Senate Republicans to oppose it, which would risk killing both versions. Republican leaders also appeared to defy President Bush, whose spokesman this week urged the House to pass the Senate version."
"The last time I checked, he doesn't have a vote," is what the New York Times ' powerful duo of Firestone and Stevenson quote Leader DeLay as saying about that nice Ari Fleischer, as the People's Chamber blew off the White House on the child tax credit fix. LINK
The New York Post 's Vincent Morris quotes Representative DeLay's vow on the child tax credit: "'It ain't gonna happen'". LINK
So what DOES happen now is anyone's guess.
The New York Times has more: "The majority leader's defiance of the White House reflected growing frustration among conservatives about pressure from the administration to provide a benefit to millions of minimum-wage families who pay little or nothing in federal income taxes."
"But it also exposed the fissures among Republicans over how far to go in chalking up legislative accomplishments ahead of next year's election."
"'On this one, the president and Tom DeLay don't see eye to eye,' a senior administration official said after Mr. Bush met late today with Republican Congressional leaders at the White House."
The Washington Post 's story is much more run o' the mill. LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's Murray big-thinks and thumb-sucks her way through a look at the tax "fairness" debate.
Bush-Cheney re-elect:
We hear that Christine Iverson, former press secretary for former Representative John Thune's South Dakota Senate bid, is headed for a communications role at the Republican National Committee.
Word is she'll be the news press secretary. Dan Pfeiffer was unavailable to comment.
The AP's Will Lester sizes up new Quinnipiac and NPR polls and finds that the president "holds a consistent double-digit lead over his Democratic rivals despite growing public concerns about his handling of the economy." LINK
"When Bush is matched against an unnamed Democratic nominee or against several of the leading Democrats in the race, he holds a lead ranging from 13 points against Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman to 15 points against an unnamed Democrat to slightly more against Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt or Massachusetts Senator John Kerry."
The Los Angeles Times Ed Chen has a basic, but helpful primer on the No Child Left Behind funding debate. LINK
USA Today 's Walter Shapiro looks at the "no-secrets presidency" of 42 and finds a lesson for the "eyes-only administration" of 43. LINK
Gregg Easterbrook uses his New Republic Primary assessment of Senator Bob Graham's intellectual honesty to make an extended point about President Bush's environmental record:
"As for 'repeatedly losing out to big business, big coal and big oil,' here is where Graham joins many pundits and enviros in using the Big Lie. The two-year Bush administration has made three spectacular pro-environmental decisions, and all over the howls of big interest groups. Just after taking office, Bush ordered that diesel fuel--studies show diesel fumes contribute to urban asthma and to premature deaths of the elderly--be reformulated to reduce its inherent pollutant content. This was the most important environmental advance since the 1991 Clean Air Act amendments ordered gasoline similarly reformulated, and came over the howls of the petroleum lobby." LINK
"Then Bush ordered that new diesel engines for trucks and buses meet significantly higher environmental standards. This decision came over the howls of the trucking business and of Speaker Dennis Hastert, the most important Republican in the House, in whose district sits the largest diesel-engine manufacturing plant in the nation."
"Taken together, Bush's three pro-environmental decisions will cause the next round of progress toward clean air. Have you heard of any of them? Of course not. The media (especially Howell Raines's truth-optional New York Times ) resolutely pretend these decisions do not exist. Democrats and enviro lobbyists have learned they can make hay by pretending these decisions do not exist. Graham's environmental policy seems based on such pretending. Which other contenders will join in this prevarication?"
ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary:
The AP reports, "Hispanic members of the Democratic National Committee want Gov. Bill Richardson to chair the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston." LINK
"The committee's Hispanic Caucus has drafted a resolution urging Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe to appoint Richardson to lead the convention."
"McAuliffe said Richardson would be a good choice."
Tennesseans are beginning to see results from bumping up the state's primary on next year's election calendar reports the Knoxville News-Sentinel.LINK
"Trips to Tennessee this month by Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and Bob Graham may be an indication that Tennessee has become a more prominent place on the nation's political map."
"'Tennessee is in play and our phones are ringing all the time now,' said Randy Button, state Democratic party chairman. 'The candidates are really going to spend a lot of time and a lot of money here.'"
Senator Clinton was shown on Today today telling Katie Couric that she wouldn't speculate about who the presidential nominee will be.
Playing word association, she said Al Gore is a "good man."
LIEBERMAN
When the Edwards campaign press release hit the David Lightman's inbox, he was quite certain the names on the release looked familiar. LINK
"In March, Joe Lieberman stood proudly with Arizona legislators Richard Miranda, Wally Straughn and others and boasted how he had 'locked down' the endorsements of a majority of the state's representatives."
"Tuesday, rival John Edwards picked the lock."
"Miranda and Straughn showed up on a list of Arizona lawmakers endorsing the North Carolina senator."
"'It was a little premature,' Miranda, a state senator from Phoenix, said Tuesday of his initial decision to back Lieberman."
"Straughn was not as kind to the Connecticut Democrat."
"'I thought he was going to do a lot more in Arizona,' the freshman representative said, 'and when I found out about some of his issue positions, I was not happy with them.'"
"Since Lieberman is not the favorite to win the earlier contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, he is banking on states that hold primaries in the third week — particularly Arizona and Oklahoma — to give him some momentum."
"His pitch in Arizona this spring was twofold: As a moderate, he is more closely attuned to the mood of voters, and his ethnic, middle-class background gives him a feeling for the concerns of the state's Latino voters."
"Lieberman's team remained upbeat Tuesday. 'This campaign is ahead organizationally of all the others,' said Lieberman's Phoenix spokesman, Ron Ober. The senator plans to open a headquarters there next week."
The AP reports that Lieberman picked up seven labor union endorsements from his home state on Tuesday. LINK
"Help Me Beat George Bush!" a Lieberman fundraising e-mail blares.
"The polls show that of all the Democrats running for President, I have the best chance to defeat George Bush. I can match him where he's perceived to be strong — defense and values — and beat him where he is weak — the economy and his right-wing social agenda."
"And make no mistake — Democrats want to win in '04. We're tired of George Bush's failed leadership on the economy. And we're tired of choosing between a President who keeps us strong in the world and a candidate who can keep us strong at home."
IOWA
Governor Tom Vilsack is in the middle of his annual walk across Iowa, and losing plenty of weight in the process. LINK
DEAN
Stateline.org's Kathleen Murphy reports Dean "promises he won't forget what a governor's job is all about-- and won't order programs without giving states money for them-- if he becomes president of the United States." LINK
Dean "said he would forsake unfunded mandates to the states if elected president, and would require states that are hurting financially to get their fiscal house in order before hoping for federal bailouts."
Web maven Mathew Gross, who is just about the most underrated political guru in the Dean world (Trippi decides; he executes.), writes that the name of Governor Dean's official blog is now "Blog For America," which, incidentally, does not refer to either a Klingon dish or a Simpson's alien.
The first entry congratulates Trippi on his birthday. LINK
Gross says that audioblogging (!) and PDA-friendly blogging (!!) will arrive shortly.
Former New Hampshire NEA head Dennis Murphy has endorsed Dean.LINK
Dean will open a field office in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
LINK
Props for the "vertically challenged presidential candidate" from the Denver Post. LINK
SHARPTON
The New York Post 's Page Six follows up on a "Celebrity Justice" report that a suit has been filed looking to repossess a 2001 Ford Explorer allegedly owned by the Reverend Al Sharpton after payments ceased in November, and a $3,600 check bounced in February. LINK
A Sharpton spokeswoman, who said the Reverend was unaware of the matter (Lawyer Michael Hardy is looking into it..) had this urban-centric response: "'Rev. Sharpton personally does not drive, nor does he have a driver's license.'" (We're tempted to add a little "Only in NY, kids" here.)
EDWARDS
The Millard Fillmore defense comes alive!
From a letter to the editor of USA Today :
"Edwards too young?"
" USA Today offered a fair and accurate profile of Senator John Edwards, D-N.C., and his campaign for president. But I found the constant referrals to his 'youth' amusing ("In presidential race, Edwards has yet to win over N. Carolina,' News, Friday)."
"'I do not expect to vote for Edwards. Nevertheless, if he gets the Democratic nomination and then is elected president, he will be older than James Polk, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Ulysses Grant, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton when they became president. Unqualified for other reasons? Perhaps. But too young? Hardly.'"
The Raleigh News & Observer's John Wagner writes Senator Edwards is urging patience on the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. LINK
Mr. Wagner also has the details on the senator's MALDEF keynote address tonight.LINK
"U.S. Senator John Edwards will propose a new national medical translation system and several other steps to improve health care for minorities during an appearance tonight at a fund-raising dinner for a national Latino civil rights organization, aides to the White House aspirant said."
"The translation system, according to Edwards' campaign, would ensure in-person medical translations for the five most common languages in the 100 largest counties in the United States. In small communities, including rural areas, medical translators would be available by phone around the clock."
Congressman Burr is putting together his campaign team to take on Senator Edwards. The Burr camp has some heavy influence from Senator E. Dole's strategists according to The Charlotte Observer. LINK
GEPHARDT
The AP's round-up team of Pickler/Ramer/Lester report that even though Gephardt "has made coverage for uninsured Americans the hallmark of his presidential bid," a recent New Hampshire survey "found that more associate Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and Howard Dean of Vermont with plans to change the system." LINK
"U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., a man who hopes to capture the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, was a guest of Wilkes-Barre Attorney John Moses on Tuesday morning at an invitation-only reception held at The Woodlands Inn and Resort in Plains Township," writes Fred Ney of the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Citizens' Voice. LINK
The Boston Globe 's Names column continues the paper's coverage of a certain Cardinals fan, by writing about Dick Gephardt's " New Hampshire lobster dinner" bet on the Red Sox/Cardinals series " with New Hampshire House Democratic Leader Peter Burling." LINK
Names offers this Notish remark: "We're not exactly sure what constitutes a New Hampshire lobster dinner, but if the Sox come back to win the series, Gephardt has to provide the New Hampshire Democratic Caucus with bags of Gus's pretzels and a case of mustard. The bet was set yesterday, the first time the two teams have played at Fenway Park since Game 7 of the 1967 World Series."
The New York Post 's Liz Smith writes about Lynn Forester ("The Baroness Rothschild") and Felix Rohatyn's event for Dick Gephardt at the Baroness' River House apartment Monday night. LINK
Smith savvily observes "The incredible lineup of important people writing checks would surprise and shock the Republicans. (Although the GOP is light years ahead of the Dems in money-raising for 2004.)"
She also hawks Gephardt's $1,000-a-head, Barry Manilow-headlined June 23rd event at the Grand Hyatt (D.C. telephone number for more info included!).
KERRY
Senator Kerry plans on holding a 1:00 pm Eastern conference call with reporters to accept the endorsements of two members of the New York congressional delegation.
Upstater Rep. Louise Slaughter and Rep. Gregory Meeks of Queens are set to back the Massachusetts senator. These two members of Congress will join the likes of Mark Green, Virginia Fields, and Dennis Mehiel in Empire State support for Mr. Kerry.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Melanie Eversley reports, "Veterans' advocate and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland of Georgia said Tuesday he is endorsing Senator John Kerry, a fellow Democrat, for president." LINK
In the Hill, Mark "S." Mellman thinks it's still the economy, stupid. LINK
GRAHAM
The Washington Post 's Pol Notes column Notes that the Graham Notebooks are now off limits and Jamal Simmons is Notably annoyed at questions about that. LINK
The AP's Nedra Pickler reports on the infamous Notebooks, which "have been a curiosity to reporters, and Graham spokesman Paul Anderson said they are becoming a distraction in his presidential bid." LINK
A new cd of Graham-themed, Graham-approved songs, including I've Done Every Job, Man; We've Got a Friend in Bob Graham; and the hip-swinging hit, Arriba Bob! has been produced and will available for the interested (mostly, we'll guess, reporters and the other campaigns) within a few days. LINK
We aren't kidding.
MSNBC's Tom Curry's piece on Senator Graham says that "[t[he only time Graham got truly enthusiastic cheers at last weekend's Council Bluffs forum was when he pledged that he would not appoint John Ashcroft 'or anyone like him' to his cabinet." LINK
KUCINICH
Sure it took a stain on his tie to do it, but Congressman Kucinich makes Maureen Dowd's column today. LINK
The Clintons of Chappaqua:
The New York Times ' David Kirkpatrick reports that the Clinton tome sold quite a few copies on its first day, possibly justifying the $8 million advance. LINK
The New York Post 's Vincent Morris covers the big 200,000 number, and looks at the Senator's upcoming signing schedule. LINK
The New York Daily News' Joel Siegel and James Gordon Meek check in on which of Senator Clinton's colleagues might be reading her well-selling book, and which ones most certainly will not be. LINK
Hillary, Harry. Harry, Hillary, according to the Washington Post 's Linton Weeks. LINK
"Neither of the Clintons wants a Democrat to do well in '04. It is vital to their plans that President Bush wins reelection so Hillary can have a shot at an open White House in 2008. If she had to wait until 2012, she would be 65 and the bloom from her husband's presidency might have faded from view."
LINK
"Conason Favorably Reviews Blumenthal Book" LINK
Isn't that what you journalists call "Dog Bites Man"?
Speaking of Mr. Sidney Blumenthal, as we often do, last night a simple book party was held for him in Gotham City.
With Tina at her best, and Harry holding forth, a good time was had by all, including:
From the Clinton administration: Roger Altman, Michael Waldman, James P. Rubin, Cheryl Mills, Jack Lew, Maggie Williams, Jordan Tamagni, Jim Kennedy, Jonathan Prince, Doug Hand. From the media: Frank Rich, David Carr, Jann Wenner, Steven Brill, Rick Hertzberg, Jacob Weisberg, Michael Tomasky, Jeff Frank, Adam Gopnik, Dorothy Wickenden, Richard Cohen, Alan Rusbridger, Nick Wapshott, Joe Conason, Maer Roshan, Eric Alterman, Kerry Lauerman, Charles Taylo, Joan Bingham, Morgan Entrekin, and Jonathan Galassy. Academics, writers and thinkers: Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Stephen Schlesinger, Paul Berman, Sean Wilentz, Todd Gitlin, Michael Janeway, Diane McWhorter, Christine Stansill, Elisabeth Sifton, James Chace, Fritz Stern, Edward Jay Epstein, Peter Pringle. Former member of the vast right wing conspiracy: David Brock. Former Nixon aide: Monica Crowley. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton.
Dick Morris sees a Machiavellian motive in HRC's decision to publish at a time "when the candidates of her own party are struggling to gain traction."
The New York Daily News' James Gordon Meek writes that Trent Lott is threatening to get in on the memoir action (key word: threatening). LINK
The New York Post 's Liz Smith picks up Lloyd Grove's recent item about Barbara Bush's own upcoming memoir, and the likely-to-be-skewered targets. LINK
California recall:
The San Francisco Chronicle's Robert Salladay reports, "It is happening faster than anyone predicted. As of Tuesday, organizers said they have collected nearly 700,000 signatures, more than half of their 1. 2 million target, although only a fraction have been turned over to the secretary of state." LINK
Politics:
ABC News' intern Dan Iten reports that organizers of the April 25, 2004 pro-choice rally were asked about the timing. Why, if rights are in such jeopardy now, will they wait nearly a year to march?
Their answer: it takes time to mobilize people.
And National Right To Life objects to some of the polling citied by the pro choicers:
From a release:
"[Poll] after poll shows that the majority of Americans support greatly increased protections for unborn children--and women reject the so-called pro choice agenda in numbers greater than men."
"For example, in the Newsweek poll released June 1, those who identified themselves as 'pro-life' outnumber those who identified themselves as 'pro-choice,' 48 percent to 47 percent — but among women only, those who chose 'pro-life' outnumbered 'pro-choice' 50 percent to 45 percent."
Grover Norquist gets it all today from Dow Jones: a front-page Wall Street Journal story examining his work with Arab-Americans; a handsome dot drawing; and a staunch on-the-record defense from Karl Rove.
A really swell Washington Post correction: "A June 8 profile of actress Jane Alexander incorrectly identified a senator she described in her memoir. It was Senator Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) whom she described as 'a taut, leathery gnome of a man with hair a color not found in nature.' It was also Thurmond who asked her, 'Aren't you a moral woman?'" LINK
Senator Craig gets slammed by the ed boards of both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times , which isn't easy to do. LINK
Senator Craig beware: Stormin' Norm Ornstein is all worked up over senatorial holds in his Roll Call column.
"The outrageous abuse of individual power through the hold-by senators taking innocent nominees hostage for utterly extraneous purposes, or individuals blocking votes for months or longer without any effective check on their power-go on. The near-anonymous nature of many holds remains in place, despite an agreement to the contrary. No matter how embarrassing the actions of individual senators in this area, the institution has an almost infinite capacity to sustain embarrassment, and has refused or failed to act in a meaningful way."
"It is time to put an end to them. It is time for Senator Lott to lead the way, for Majority Leader Frist and Minority Leader Daschle to step up, and time for the rest of the Senate to behave like adults."
The Associated Press reports that GOP leaders in Louisiana are trying to thin the gubernatorial field of seven Republicans in order to "avoid a possible Democrat-only runoff." LINK
Opponents said "State Rep. Hunt Downer will soon receive the endorsement" of influential Republicans.
"A group led by Republican fundraiser and shipyard owner Donald 'Boysie' Bollinger met with at least three of the seven GOP candidates, one by one, Monday in a hotel conference room near the New Orleans airport, Downer and others said."
Gannett's DeWayne Wickham's latest column assesses the role of House Minority Leader Pelosi.
Wickham writes, "Now that the Senate has voted to give low-income families a $ 400 child tax credit, Pelosi — the House Democratic Leader — will have to shift from partisan critic to political mover and shaker to get similar legislation through the House of Representatives."
"Whether or not she succeeds, the California congresswoman may soon become the dominant voice in the Democratic Party."
"That's not a stretch. At a time when Republicans control all three branches of the federal government and George W. Bush's high approval ratings have so far been immune to the steep economic downturn that parallels his time in the White House, Democrats have a serious leadership vacuum."
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mark Naymik takes a look at Jerry Springer's new website.LINK
"The controversial talk-show host and former Cincinnati mayor has developed a Web site to hawk T-shirts, CDs and autographed photos in a possible bid for the U.S. Senate."
"Supporters, for instance, can get $25 T-shirts emblazoned with "Yokels for Jerry" — a reference to the underclass Springer says is left out of the political process."
"Springer, a Democrat, plans to hold the money generated from the Web site until he decides whether he will become a candidate, said Mike Ford, a consultant who managed Springer's previous political campaigns and helped create the new site, www.runjerryrun.com."
The Chicago Tribune's Tim Jones reports that "Talk-show host Jerry Springer on Tuesday moved a step closer toward a U.S. Senate bid, announcing the creation of an exploratory campaign committee in Ohio." LINK
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mark Naymik writes, "Often accused of selling sleaze, Jerry Springer is now selling a piece of his political future." LINK
New York Times politics:
The New York Post 's Keith J. Kelly has Bill Keller as current frontrunner. LINK
Baquet, Baron, Keller, Clotted Cream … The New York Times ' R.W. Apple finds himself strolling in peaceful Cornwall, England to sample the "'food of the gods,'" which he drippingly describes as "rich, luxuriously thick and golden, the very essence of self-indulgence." LINK
David Broder advises the Times how to right its ship, but, boy, is he annoyed about that whole IHT thing. LINK
Judicial confirmation battles:
The Washington Times sees the Supreme Court's recent decision to consider campaign finance reform in September as "signaling that the bench will remain unchanged at least until then." LINK
Roll Call 's Paul Kane notes that the liberal coalition against conservative jurists has "seeded" their 501 (c) 3 with $5.5 million, while "[on] June 27 first nephew George P. Bush will headline a small-dollar fundraiser in Washington for the Committee for Justice, designed with an eye toward generating support for the expected Supreme Court nomination battle among young conservative activists."
His ending paragraphs are a story unto themselves:
"Regardless, the presidency of George W. Bush has been good business for the liberal groups, although they contend they would gladly trade in the extra resources for a Democratic president. [PFAW's Ralph] Neas, president of his group since 2000, has seen annual 30 percent to 40 percent gains in his budget, now pushing the $15 million mark. He spent the last week in May in California on a fundraising trek with the group's founder, television producer Norman Lear."
"He has expanded his work force from 60 to 90 people, including a half-dozen lawyers, 20 national field coordinators and about eight communications employees in the K Street office. Aaron has up to 10 researchers in her office, including lawyers and law school students."
"NARAL now has offices in 27 states, with 750,000 people on their e-mail distribution list. Planned Parenthood, which operates nearly 900 health centers nationwide, has made a very aggressive political turn, increasing their spending on political advocacy five-fold in the past two years, according to [Gloria] Feldt."
"In addition, Planned Parenthood went from five field coordinators in its national office to 26 in the past three years."
Nick Lewis of the New York Times tees up the Bill Pryor nomination and wonders if the filibuster will be wheeled out by the Democrats. LINK
Legislative agenda:
The AP's H. Josef Hebert writes, "U.S. taxpayers may underwrite a new generation of nuclear power plants now that the Senate has endorsed the idea as part of a broad energy bill." LINK
The House keeps working on Head Start reform. LINK
Knight Ridder's David Goldstein writes, "Head Start, the nation's premier preschool program for low-income families, may be getting a face-lift." LINK
"The Bush administration wants to give the states much more control over the popular 38-year-old program, and to lift the standards for its teachers."
The AP's Jesse J. Holland reports, "The House has voted to prohibit gamblers from using credit cards to bet at illegal offshore Internet casinos." LINK
Bush Administration strategy/personality:
Confusion reigns over the Gay Month matter at DOJ, as Justice appears to change its position. LINK
The New York Times ' Eric Lichtblau had an old voice mail message played for him, and seems deeply skeptical of the administration's claim that this was all just a big misunderstanding, with Mark Corallo as Jack Tripper and Barbara Comstock as Chrissy Snow. LINK
The AP's Curt Anderson reports that "Attorney General John Ashcroft will allow gay and lesbian Justice Department employees to hold an annual gathering at agency headquarters if they foot the bill, a move critics said Tuesday was a clumsy reversal of a previous decision." LINK
